Feast of San Domenico di Guzmán

San Domenico di Guzmán, ora pro nobis

August 4th is the Feast of San Domenico di Guzmán (Saint Dominic), Preacher of grace (Praedicator grate), the Hound of God, and Light of the Church (Lumen Ecclesiae). Founder of the Dominican Order of Preachers, he is the patron saint of astronomers, as well as the protector of Sturno, a small town in the Province of Avellino. 

In celebration, I'm posting a prayer to St. Dominic. The accompanying photo of San Domenico di Guzmán perched atop the spire (guglia) was taken in Piazza San Domenico Maggiore, Naples by Andrew Giordano. Begun in 1656 by Cosimo Fanzango, to commemorate the city's deliverance from the plague, it was eventually completed by Domenico Antonio Vaccaro in 1737. Evviva San Domenico di Guzmán!

Prayer to St. Dominic

Wonderful Saintly Founder of the eloquent Order of Preachers and friend of Saint Francis of Assisi, you were a fiery defender of the Faith and a fighter against the darkness of heresy. You resembled a great star that shone close to the world and pointed to the Light which was Christ. Help astronomers to study the stars and admire their wonderful Maker, proclaiming: "Give glory to God in the highest." Amen.